Solving time: 41:45
I found this one fairly average in terms of difficulty. I don’t think there were any new words in here to me, although there were a couple of unfamiliar ones – BERTHA & PERI. I got them both from the rest of the wordplay, but both were vaguely familiar.
It took me way too long to get the actor. It should have been my FOI, but I just didn’t see PETER, getting stuck on CHRIS as a possible first name. It all seemed fair enough – I don’t think I have any complaints. I liked the cheeky wordplay in 25d so that gets my COD.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
Across | |
---|---|
5 | ROLL + MOP |
9 | REPTILIAN = (PIRATE + L + IN)* |
10 | D(UR)ER – ‘old city’ = UR is about as chestnutty as they come. I remember my Dad teaching me about that one, and that must be the best part of thirty years ago! |
11 | BERTH + A – a wide, usually lace, collar worn by ladies to cover a dress with a low neckline. |
12 | AFTER + A + L/L |
14 | UN + P(L |
16 | TIN + |
18 | TART – dd |
19 | CAMELOPARD = (COP ALARMED)* – the original Latin name for the giraffe. The Romans believed it to be some strange hybrid of the camel and the leopard, and named it accordingly. |
22 | IN + SPADES |
23 | S + NIP + ED |
26 | STORM = ROTS rev + M |
27 | OLD MASTER – dd – although I’m not sure that being an old teacher necessarily implies that you’re soon to leave. Some of my teachers, I remember, just seemed to go on and on. ‘Old’ was just another step on the way towards becoming venerable and perhaps ancient. |
28 |
|
29 | MINARET = |
Down | |
1 | C(A + RIB + O)U |
2 | SUP + ER |
3 | IRISH SEA – cd |
4 | GRIN |
5 | RING FINGER – cd |
6 | L + ADDER |
7 | MARGARITA = A + RITA all after GRAM rev |
8 | PAR(S)LEY |
13 | ESCAPE ROAD = (A CAR + SPEEDO)* |
15 | PERIS + COPE |
17 | FOUNTAIN = (IN A FUTON)* |
18 | TRI(E + S)TE – I didn’t realize Trieste was in Italy. I knew it was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire pre-WWI (thanks to the Diplomacy board game), and just assumed, due to its location, that it had become part of Yugoslavia, and then either Slovenia or Croatia after the break up. But no, apparently the Italians claimed it for themselves after WWII. |
20 | DIDEROT = D |
21 | MARMOT = ARM in TOM rev (Not TARMAC as I very nearly put in!) |
24 | PETER CUSHING = (SCENE + UPRIGHT)* – I love the semi-&lit qualities of this clue. |
25 | EDAM – It’s invented because it’s MADE up – brilliant! |
At least I had heard of Camelopard – it’s a constellation as well, and ‘peri’, which is a stock word in US puzzles where vowels are always in demand.
Edited at 2012-11-03 04:43 am (UTC)
Judy in Vancouver, Canada
Geoff in New Westminster.
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To Roy,
My source of the puzzle is the Vancouver Sun. We get the puzzle about four weeks after it is originally published.
Judy in Vancouver, Canada